Crosstown Theatre

400 N. Cleveland Street,
Memphis, TN 38104

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MSC77
MSC77 on December 31, 2021 at 12:04 pm

Here’s a new 4-page 50th anniversary FIDDLER ON THE ROOF retrospective featuring a roadshow playdate chronology and historian Q&A. The Crosstown’s run is mentioned in the piece.

rivest266
rivest266 on August 14, 2021 at 4:49 am

Malco closed it in August 1976 and sold it to Gil Delugach. Another ad posted.

rivest266
rivest266 on August 13, 2021 at 2:18 am

The Crosstown theatre opened as “The Theatre of Tomorrow” on May 18th, 1951. Grand opening ad posted.

vastor
vastor on February 27, 2014 at 3:58 am

2014 photos of the lobby staircases have been posted.

vastor
vastor on July 2, 2013 at 5:59 pm

A new photo of the entire front and vertical from 1961 has been posted. From the Fire Museum of Memphis, used with permission.

vastor
vastor on August 10, 2012 at 9:05 pm

Went by there the other day, it is newly painted and remodeled. The main feature I could see through the doors were the twin sweeping staircases from the lobby to the balcony. They are still beautiful.

obitguy
obitguy on January 31, 2012 at 8:03 pm

This was such a beautiful theater. It is a disgrace that it was allowed to end up like it did. I remember my sister and I having to sit through “Dr. Dolittle” back in the late 60s. Saw “Fiddler on the Roof” with my mom, “Day of the Jackal” with my grandmother. My 7th grade buddies from Auburndale and I saw “The Poseidon Adventure” several times. I must have seen “Billy Jack” a dozen times. So many movies: “2001,” “Tora,Tora, Tora,” “Z,” “The Cross and the Switchblade.” Many great times.

ghsong
ghsong on December 3, 2010 at 2:21 pm

my first real job ever was at the A&P grocery store across cleveland from the crosstown in 1969.right next door to the crosstown was a drug store that had a great lunch counter with wonderful greasy cheeseburgers!…so so long ago and yet just yesterday.

jswain
jswain on July 31, 2010 at 5:04 pm

I worked at the Crosstown when the “Agony and the Ecstacy” opened. I was in junior high at Humes. My art teacher Mrs. Thweet and her daughter were my guests one night. I later worked at the Malco theater on Main St. The Malco at one time had a side entrance for blacks only where their seating was in the highest balcony in the theatre. I also worked at the Princess to let people go on their lunch breaks. Very seedy place and I don’t think that many people knew that it was owned by the same people.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 23, 2009 at 2:34 am

Boxoffice of April 5, 1952, reported that the Crosstown Theatre had been designed by the architectural firm of Brueggeman, Swaim & Allen.

The front of the Crosstown, Boxoffice reported, “…employs approximately one mile of neon tubing in the installation, requiring 40 circuits and 143 transformers. The V-shaped signature tower with Crosstown in vertical letters is 72 feet high, and begins 20 feet above the ground.”

calldon
calldon on January 16, 2009 at 10:41 pm

So sad that they demolished the beautiful sign and gutted the interior instead of refurbishing it! The Crosstown was a beautiful showplace at one time. So sad for its loss! I took the following photos with my cell phone
View link

Had I known they were going to destroy the rest of the facade, I would have returned to make photos with a better camera.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on February 23, 2008 at 5:23 pm

The church has finished renovating the theater. Here are some related sites:
http://tinyurl.com/34r74q
http://tinyurl.com/2rlmxv

Local619
Local619 on December 14, 2007 at 8:02 pm

Was in the Crosstown in 1969 to see the local(Projectionist Union) Business Agent, they were running Oliver in 70mm. Was told that Elvis had rented the theatre for a midnight show for himelf and some friends. Rumor was that he was a big tipper (staff loved him)

JackCoursey
JackCoursey on June 9, 2007 at 8:43 pm

Thanks and please do!

kjb
kjb on June 9, 2007 at 7:17 am

Hi Jack,
I posted a few photos of the main auditorium on the Flickr site. If you want, I can add more as the remodel progresses.
kjb

JackCoursey
JackCoursey on June 8, 2007 at 7:32 pm

Kjb could you post your photos on the Cinemas Tennessee Flickr site?

kjb
kjb on June 8, 2007 at 1:57 pm

Jehovah’s Witnesses still own it. They are doing a complete remodel of the building inside and out. If you are interested in photo’s let me know, I have some.

kjb

Ron Newman
Ron Newman on May 22, 2007 at 2:39 am

So who bought it from the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and how are they using this building?

calldon
calldon on May 21, 2007 at 6:34 pm

Here are some photos taken November ‘06, including one of the rear.

View link

They have not been color corrected, but they will give you a larger idea of how the Crosstown looks today.

D*

Ron Newman
Ron Newman on October 22, 2006 at 1:16 am

Who have they sold it to?

gspragin
gspragin on October 21, 2006 at 8:28 pm

Looks like the Jehovah’s Witnesses have moved on. Here is the building on October 18, 2006: Former Crosstown Theatre in Memphis

BarryFord
BarryFord on February 16, 2006 at 2:53 pm

The sign has been sitting on the grounds of the Jehova’s Witnesses for the last couple of months. It has since been cut in half and given to a junk yard.

I shed a tear.

BarryFord
BarryFord on February 16, 2006 at 2:53 pm

The sign has been sitting on the grounds of the Jehova’s Witnesses for the last couple of months. It has since been cut in half and given to a junk yard.

I shed a tear